Skip to main content

Sleight of hand (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Skills

Definition

Sleight of Hand represents manual dexterity and the ability to perform undetected manipulations—picking pockets, palming small objects, planting evidence, concealing items on your person, and performing stage magic tricks. In Call of Cthulhu, this skill enables subtle but critical actions during investigations. Whether you're lifting a key from a guard's belt, slipping a note to an ally without being noticed, palming a small artifact from a display case, or concealing a weapon, Sleight of Hand is about doing things with your hands that nobody else sees. In the 1920s, stage magic is popular entertainment, and the same techniques that entertain audiences can serve investigators in dangerous situations.

Ask AI about this term

How it works

**Base Value**: 10% **Key Uses**: - Picking pockets and lifting small items - Palming objects and concealing them - Planting items on people or in locations - Performing stage magic and tricks **Special Rules**: Opposed by Spot Hidden from observers. Target awareness affects difficulty—picking from an alert, suspicious person is much harder than from a distracted crowd member. Size of object matters—a coin is easy, a book is nearly impossible.

Tips

**Build Advice**: Useful for investigators who operate through subtlety rather than force. Excellent for supplementing a social or stealth-focused build. **Occupation Synergies**: Pairs with Stealth for overall subtlety, Locksmith for the full infiltrator package, and Fast Talk for creating distractions while you work. **Character Concepts**: Stage magician, pickpocket, con artist, card sharp, jewel thief, spy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I steal a gun from someone's holster?

Theoretically possible but extremely difficult—Hard or Extreme difficulty. The target would need to be distracted. Failure likely means they notice and react, potentially violently.

Does Sleight of Hand work the same as Stealth?

They're complementary but different. Stealth hides your entire person. Sleight of Hand hides what your hands are doing while you're in plain sight. Both are about avoiding detection but in different ways.

Further Reading

StealthLocksmithAll CoC7e Skills
Previous
Shoulder arms
Next
Sleight of hand
Explore Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition
Full system guide and terminology.
Back to glossary
Browse all terms and categories.